tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375512083268389933.post3073597727043710988..comments2023-09-30T10:36:23.154-05:00Comments on Accidental Historian: AtF: Two Shooters on the Grassy KnollGedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15047239425466517786noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375512083268389933.post-85535477324334013582010-04-07T15:21:32.097-05:002010-04-07T15:21:32.097-05:00Sadly for Cassivellaunus, Caesar remained at least...Sadly for Cassivellaunus, Caesar remained at least semi-literate although he certainly wrote like someone who had taken one too many sword blows to the helmet (and thank Jupiter for that, so much easier to translate). <br /><br />Something with the third point is bugging me now too. He says the Britons knew about Labienus. How, exactly? The disputed amount of interaction between Gaul and Briton aside, I can't see the identities of Caesar's lieutenants as being something they would be all that interested in. Even if they were and they had detailed information then surely they would have been aware that he was actually in charge of the legions in Gaul at the time and, you know, alive. And continued to be alive and prominent for long enough after that if they had known of him then they would have realized if a mistake had been made earlier. <br /><br />If he wanted to make the argument that they were deliberately lying to make themselves look better I might buy it but that goes against his first point since obviously contemporaries never feel the need to make themselves look better than their enemies (/headdesk). <br /><br />I am starting to see why you make sure to have a drink when doing these.Rhino of Steelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375512083268389933.post-39856428995215038002010-04-06T08:28:42.373-05:002010-04-06T08:28:42.373-05:00I know! Imagine the conversation the king would h...I know! Imagine the conversation the king would have with his scouts after the Roman legions charged out of the woods and slaughtered everyone in their drunken revelry.<br /><br />King: Where the hell did they come from?"<br /><br />Scout: Um, we don't know.<br /><br />King: Didn't you look?<br /><br />Scout: Yeah. We didn't see their ships out on the river any more.<br /><br />King: Did you happen to look on shore?<br /><br />Scout: Uh...<br /><br />King: Did you happen to notice, say, a large encampment with about six or seven thousand guys?<br /><br />Scout: We did. We just weren't sure what to make of it.<br /><br />King: Did you happen to notice that they were all dressed alike?<br /><br />Scout: Yes, actually. We figured maybe they hadn't called each other to check their wardrobes.<br /><br />King: Did you notice that they were all heavily armed?<br /><br />Scout: Now that you mention it...<br /><br />King: Alright, here's how we'll play it. We'll say that we beat them back, but then, um, one of my rivals called them back. Yeah. Tom?<br /><br />Tom: Yes, m'lord?<br /><br />King: Pretend you called Caesar back. We're not going to look like idiots here.<br /><br />Tom: Yes, m'lord.<br /><br />King: Okay, that should do it. Y'know, just as long as that Caesar guy is illiterate...Gedshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15047239425466517786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375512083268389933.post-33669762095678471012010-04-06T08:19:29.227-05:002010-04-06T08:19:29.227-05:00The second point really shows his faith actually, ...The second point really shows his faith actually, but only his faith in the capability of medieval scribes. If he honestly thinks such a mistake couldn't be made even with a correct version in front of him, he is sadly mistaken. <br /><br />Even that assumes Tysilio had a correct account of Caesar's <i>De Bello Gallico</i> instead of a fragmentary and/or poorly copied edition. <br /><br />I'm also really curious, leaving aside the abject stupidity of a naval invasion up that Thames, how the scouts could see that the ships were gone from the beach but miss the fortified Roman camp of thousands of men and horses as well as hundreds of ships. I don't think it is even possible to be that incompetent.Rhino of Steelnoreply@blogger.com